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COLUMBIA, S. C. Tflurslfty Morning. October 1,1874. Machinery sf the Election Law*. In bis attempt to apeak the other eveniug in Charleston, Judge Mackey, finding iiooa in hie way, turned into a side path and belabored Bowen. Thin Beoured him a liUleatteutiou, and be wont ou long enough, to characterize a9 an absurdity 'the idea of getting a fair connt from snob a Oommlssionef of Eieotiona.' This raised bar curi-' oaity, and induced n* to .look into tbe statutes to see the drift of tbe eleution laws. We flud them to have been originally drawn so as to work out par? tisan rosults and to enable commis? sioners and managers to elect a man whether ho had a majority of votes or not. But they are a little modiflod since those days. The timo of holding (he general elections in this State was changed ut the last session of tbe General Amena? bly from tbe third Wednesday in Oc tober to tbe first Tuesday following t ho first Monday iu November, winch .will be on tbe 31 of that month. The qualification prescribed for voters is that, .without distinction of race or color, they shall be of tbe age of twenty-one years, not labor under disa? bilities-, and shall have rosided in tbo State one year and in the County sixty days preoeding the eleution. F.+r eaob County there are to be appointed, by the Governor, three Commissioners of Election at least sixty days prior to tbe ?timo of holding it. We understand ?that, at tbe request of the State Exe? cutive Committee of tbe Republican party, some appointments bave buon made within this time. IIjw this is, however, we do not know certainly. Those Oommisaioners of Election are authorized und empowered to appoint thres Miosgar? of Election for each ?election preciuct. Both the corn inis Vioaora and the m mager* take the oath of ulliej prescribed by tbe Con? stitution. For eauh election preciut the Cim ni.-iMouorH uro to provide one box, to be labelled "Congress," "State," "County," &o., iu which tbe ballots shall be deposited. At tbo close of the election, the managers uud clerk, whom they are directed to ap? point, shall proceed, publicly, to open tbo ballot box and count the ballots, and continue until completed, and mike such statement of the result, aud sign it, as the nature of the election shall require. Within three days thereafter, the chairman, or a mem? ber to be designated, shall deliver to the Commissioners of Election the poll hat, the boxes containing the ballets, aud a written statement of the result of the election in his preoinjt. These commissioners meet at the Coun? ty seat, and organize as a County Board oi Canvassers, on the Tuesday following the election, just one week after tbe pending election has taken place. They may appoint a secretary, and they all take the constitutional oath. They shall than prooeed, as the Act states, to oonnt the votes of the Coanty, and ahall make such state? ments thereof as tbe nature of the eleo tion shall require, within ten days of tbe time of their first meeting as a Board of County Canvassers, and shall transmit to the Board of State Canvus sera oertiflad copies of any protest aud of all papers relating to tbo election. This is a body oomposed of tbe Secre? tary of State, Comptroller General, Attorney-General, State Treasurer, Adjutant and Inspeotor-G*. icral, and Chairman of the Committee on Privi? leges and Eleotions of tb Honao of Representatives. They are to make a statement of the whole number of votes given at the eleotions for the va? rious offiaors, and for each of them voted for in all the Counties, deter? mine the result, and deliver a certifi? cate to that effect to the Secretary of State. Finally, they determine and declare what persons have boen, by the groutcai, number of votes, duly elected; and they have tbe power, and it is made their doty, to decide all oases ander protest or contest that may ariso. The Secretary of State must transmit a copy of such certified determination to eaob person declared to be eieoted and to tbo Governor. Tho County Canyaesers also, after their final ad? journment, and within tea days of the time of their first meeting as a board, shall1 forward by a messenger to tbe Governor and Secretary of State tbe returns, poll-list, aud ail papers apper? taining to tbe election. The State con? stables (docs that mean Habbard and his constabulary?) and other peaco officers are required to be present da* ring the whole time tbe polls are kept open, and shall provant interference with the managers aud keep good or? der, i j We have reproduced here the most important provisions of tho election laws. Tboy are qumbrous, compli? cated} and elybeusive,,'<' Aawe interpret tbour/ it wilt?be sefAbteeu ydwy'H alter tba'pallotu are casl^beiorQ tjiorresult is oflftially prBp! itotiid. I The managers of" electionsnave ttif?? days within whiuh to turn over tbe poll-list and boxes aud tbeir statement to thi; elec? tion commissioners. These oomuuis sionets moot us a Canvas dug Board on the' Tuesday next following tbe elec? tion to ontiut tbo votes and get np their Statements, &o., having hud tho re? turns iu their hands four days. They have ten days more wilbiu'which to do tbeir work. Wo e.innot comprehend tbe necessity for euob long periods, making, as wo have said, altogether seventeen days after tho election has boon held before it is declared who are eleoted, unloss it bo to uflord tho op? portunity to manipulate tho boxed by stuffing or otherwise, and falsify the returns. But under Lho Act of 1872, whiob requires the managers to open the boxes and oouot the ballots publicly, it will be diffioalt, if t he people exer? cise a proper vigilance, materially to alter the results as thus arrived at. Previously to its passage, tho managers delivered tho lists and ballot-boxes to the commissioners without making a oouut ?t all. They thus had them iu their bauds, aud the full liberty to j elect any one tboy pleased. It seems to us that thin cannot be done now so easily, if at all. At any rate, whoever are the managers or commissioners, aud no matter how many ooustable.s may bo in attendance, it will be ad? visable for tbe people, who mean to have both a fair eleotiou and a fair count, to be present by committee, aud themselves see to it that they get them. Nu\v Proceeding* Inlliv CttM of F.. Stoke*. Oa last Saturday, Judgo Cooke, Chambers in Greenville, directed that Mr. E. F. Stokes should be brought before him. Ho unoounced to htm thut the Supreme Court had sustained his decision, but thai ho wished to give him an opportunity, by answer of such questions us he would propose concerning his properly, to leave the prison where he has so lo?g been con? fined. Great stillness followed thin uddresa of tbe Judge, und tho prisoner, utter some moments, made tbe follow? ing sad nud peculiar statement iu writing: 7b Judge 'I. //. Cook?: May it please the Court?For many years I uuve beeu endeavoring to live with u couieieuee void of offence towards God and man? by obeying the laws of God und man. Iu tho discharge of this duty comes my duty to the Judge as oue of tho "powers that be," as is described by the Bible. In tbo guidance of my conduct, 1 i rely entirely upou tliu guidance of tho Holy Spirit of God. My Biblo tells me when brought, be? fore judges, that tbe Spirit of God will tell mo what I shall speak, aud for me uot to premeditate. In every act of my lifo, and every word that I utter, I try to be guided by tbe Spirit of God. ] I have been now, by your Honor'* or? der, iu jail for nearly tbirteeu mouths, i and eonio before your Honor by your order. From tho time I left my sick 1 bed till the present moment I have been praying to my Muster, Jesus j Christ, for words to speak to yon as the 1 Judge, as I have been promised by my Master to bo given woids when cilled before tbe judges und o?iet r* of the law. But with all my prayers, I urn uot given tho wordd. The Lloly Spirit of God has given mo no wotds. I bave uothing, by the Spirit of God, to say. I am as a lumb led to the slaughter. I am, by aud through the influence of the Holy Spirit, dumb. I um dumb. Do with me us ueemeth good to your Hooor. Judge Cook thereupon made uu order that Mr. Stokes bo examiuod by u board of five physicians?Drs. Mar? shall, Tresoott, Hoke, But!edge and Jones, touching his sanity. If the commission report hiin to be in6uuc, he will follow up the present paoceed iugs by ou order to commit him to the State Asylnm. Bolting, Tho tendency to bolt regular noini J nations is breaking out in tbe most un? expected quarters, and tbe wire-pullers aud managers are tilled with trepida? tion. Tbeir sentiments on tho subject correspond pretty well to those of tbe oolored candidates for baptism, who, slipping out of tho parson's bauds just as he was being dipped, remurked: "Some gemmens niggers gwine to be drowued by dis yer nonsense yet." Ammunition to thb Milttia.?We learn that Frank Belcher, the militia captain at Bordeaux, has been drawing ammunition at Abbeville?be says some two hundred rounds, bot other parties say some three or four thou jsand. For what purpose ia the am? munition given? Eaob citizen ban the right to bear arms and have ammuni? tion, but the State is not aaUed upon to furnish them. We think it is time .that this distribution of ammunition i shall cease. I Abbeville Press and Banner. m Continued from second page, j every one looked with straining eyen. oionieDtarilj expeotiug to sea it swept away iutoj tho boiling waters; The browd had ;hy Una tuuo inorAaied to tioarjy u thoUBund porsoue, auu will givfiun idd? of the terrible interest that ?proviriifed,- when it la recollected thul the waves, were tolling knoo deep over the battery walks. The raia driven by a perfect hurricane came down io torreute, braising the hands aud face likp bail-.-doiies, mid it wuu with the greatest difficulty that the strongest oould stand up against the gale. Yel, iu spite of all this, the crowd coustuutiy grew larger, aud in tu avowed themselves willing aud ready to swim thu seething chasm, but this risk was not thought expedient as yet. An i.hi r boat 1 much was proposed, und a boat belonging to Mr. Vauderborst, just n fitted und in I borough repair, was soon, by the aid of a large crowd of volunteers, floated ncross the garden to tho point opposite the bathing bouse, from which thu previous at? tempt bad been made. The meu who offered themselves for tho risky voyage were Messrs. H. Nolfc Parker, John Roper, D. Todd, a colored policeman and u fisherwun?uaimi unknown. The boat was launched, and the bravo men throw themselves into the seething waves to watch for a favorable moment to board. Two had succeeded iu get? ting in, when u tremendous swell sink iug thu bout on the broadside, iintne diately filled her with water, aud the oext moment sbo was seeu bottom upward aud half crushed, being borne swiftly to leeward ou the crest of a wave. At first, not a sign could be seen of the crew, but in a momeut more a head appeared, theu another, and us the next wave, foaming angrily, cutno nibbing along, it bore the two colored men and Mr. Todd witbiu the reach of the hundreds of hands, um? brellas and sticks which were eagerly held forth for their rescue. Iu another moment these three were drawu drip? ping und half suffocated from the water. Mr. Jobu Roper rose next, and appeared to be laboring to keep him? self np. A stream of blood from his bead soon explained that he was hurt and probably half stunned. The next wave fortuuately bore him within reach of au umbrella handle, and, by the aid of this, he was kouu dragged on shore. Mr. Parker was now tho ouly remain? ing uiio, aud all eyes weroeagerly fixed upou the water, watching for bis ap pearanoe. After what secon d un age of snspeuse, he rose, aud, with n vigorous stroke, ho, too, managed to g-c close enough to oalcii a ft loudly baud. Tho crowd, who bad hardly seemed to breathe during this period, wt re uow relieved of one anxiety, aud n.aiu turned their attention to the tottering bouse. James McMaumou, the sou of the proprietor of the bath? ing-house, came rushing to the scene, half frantic, and declaring (hut he would swim across? to s-tve hts mother. He was prevented from doing this only by foroe. At this moment, however, another hero appeared upon the scene, a young man by the name of JUarry Ii.iuseu, of the United States buoy tender. Without tho least hesitation or fear of failure, be fastened a hue to bis wuist and jumped over into the ? iod, aud, breastiug the waves, ho j giliaully buttled his way across, ?ud safely reached the door of the bathing house. A rope was theu pulled over, together with u number of life-pre? servers, and the brave fellow started ou a return trip with one of the children in his iiroi'i. This tr.p was also made with success, uud the little girl, barring the quantity of bait wuier she bad swullowud, was none the worse for it. The wind now, as if by magic, lulled to almost a culm, ami just at tbi i aus? picious moment two boats wen* lunched, manned and successfully landed at tho bathing house. All of tho inmates were now safely brought over, amid the cheers of the multitude. With equal Bllddeoiics* tho wind started up again, brought down the left wing of the house, ami a fo>v mo? ments later the right wing sink back aud settled four or five feet under water. Mr. Sebastian Zinogucra's bhip yurd was partly covered with water, uud lue oca did considerable damage to the property. lien not t's, Williams', Palmetto aud Marsh's wharves were overflowed, but the injury appeared to be slight. The North pier of Uuion wharves way much wushed, and plank? ing forced out of position. The pier next to this, where the New York steam line discharges, is but little hurt, while that to the South wua somewhat damaged. The planking on thu Ml. Pleasant Ferry wharf was broken up. The steamer Sea Gull, lying at Uuion wharves, suffered no damage. The burl.. N. K. Clement?, from Rotterdam, drifted into these wharves, but was blown out again to tho stream wheu the wind changed to the West. Cou Irul wharves were oousiderably in? jured, particularly tho North pier, which will require considerable ex? pense. Tho head of the South pier was also injured. Tho schoouer Sal lie Ooursoy, which was at this wharf, was somewhat chafed, and was blown into tho stream wbeu loo galo shifted to tho Went. The schoouer Gettys? burg, which was lying in tho stream off Uuion wharves, drugged her an? chor and sprang n leak, requiring the efforts of tho powerful steam tug Re? public, with her pumps, to keep her afloat. Sho was working at tbo Get? tysburg up to dark, und there was still considerable water in the hold of the schoouer. Tbo schooners Curriu A. Bentley and Alfred Keen, which were at Central wharves, were not se? riously injured. At Accommodation wharf, there was considerable damage; the plaukiug was washed up, the tin was partly strippoi from some of tbe roofiug, and the One ship Orpbeus, having here foroed her fasts and her iibboom amu in coutuot witb the1 biiqk wall of tbo oillaoH nu the wharf, an a^ie t largo bole i? Hb~|yNortb^ eust aogle of tbo wall. Two somit sailing oroft wbiob were moored near! by, one of wbiob was tbo pilot; boat 11. E. Thompson aud tbe yacht audio,' were broken, .up or muob damaged. Tbe Orpheus was somewhat scratched, but apparently uot badly hurt. Brown's wbarves having iateiy under? gone thorough repairs, passed through the blow without damage of attune quenco. Tho new bark Saritli Ellen, at this point, rode out tho gale iu safety. Korr's wharf hud tbe head carried away, and waa partly over-, flowed. North Atlantic whuil suffucd some alight injury, tbe bark Belgium having broko Irom her moorings nod drifted up the dock. The <sexl phu j had th ; uprights of the abed partly cm e l away, uud was somewhat in? jured bv Hie washing id the sen. Tho next S-'tilh had I he plunking washed up, and the pits Were injured, while ? be South pier bud tho shed pailly knocked dowd. This valuable properly will immediately be placed in thorough order. Tile ships 1 land Home and j Arlington nud tbe barks Ciuionu and Nueva Pastors, at those whurvef?, Abowed no signs of important da? mage At lioycu Sc Uo.'n wharves, the heads were both damuged and the plank;eg wushod. The Spanish steemer Puerto liico ami the British buk Polly, ut these wharves, wore uot da? maged. Adgdr's wharves received out I little damage and tho steamer Cham piou, brig John H. Kennedy und schoouer B. N. Hawkins, at these wharves, were not. hurt. Vuuderbt>r--t'H whaif, having just been repaired, passed through the gal- without in? jury, us also did ttlU British steam -r Bolder CbiefUtti and brig G. F Ettoe, lying thero. Coinrneici'il wbtuvos bad the pier herds wushed away, and received much other injury from tbo action of the sea. Tbo bark B j -sie Parke-r, lyiug here, forttiuutely bud bur stern anchor out, aud wus uot injured. The hark Embhi, at, the same whaivcs, was not damaged Southern wharves wero somewhat washed, but did uot uppear to be much hurl. There wero some ?fteeu sail in tho stream or at quarantine, but they rode out the gule apparently without disaster. The pilot boat Aluieda aud the smack James Newton were*<uu!i in Viiiiderborst dock, a large phosphate Hit ciiiiiug agiiust their hues and parting them at the lleiVICSt part oi the blow. Tho following vcnseU were iu the stream, but sri laiucd u?) damage so 1 ? r as heard: Britt;.h birk Jess u, (.1 iuiiu bark Libert as, Husshtti liatk Jenny, bark Wey month, bark Noversiuk, bugs Francisco, Subusliiiu. Curloiu and Florence, schooners J. N. Gauiuwell, E icy U., and others The portion of the oily, lying on she Ashley lliver, felt tho eil.e s oi the btorin considerably, ultboiigti no very serious daiutgo wa? done. The tide over?'jwod the mill yards, lumber yards, private promises und the streets. The tide had reached its full height about, nine o'clock, and up to and alter that hour the water rushed into tbe city with groat force, currying every movable thing with it, and scattering debris iu every direction. At Aloro laud's wharf, on South Bay, what re maiued ot the pier heads there, with the shanties aud boat bouses thereon, were uudermined, mid tho most of them fell iu ruins. The li-dier.-ueu's boats were driven from their mo wrings. West of tbe Battery, and left high und dry some distance iu King street. The rear of the residences uu .South Bat? tery were completely oveidowed, and the fences aud oul-houses either over? turned or damaged by tho sorting mass of water. Dougherty und II ib enicht's wharves und iaudtugs were! b.idly damaged, und everything that could float moved out of position. At the West end of Tradd street, und also in Couucil, Liraehoimt and other streets in the vicinity, the small bouses built over the river were more or less damuged, ami some of them completely wrecked. All along this section of the oity the tide swept over tho laud, flooding nil tho lots und iujririug n number of baud?ouio 11 iwor gardens, which presented a deplorable bight when "dry luud appeared." The uugry waves waihod over Chisolm's cause? way, and uniting with tho water of the iidjioent ponds, made one oontiunotiH Hhoet of water as far as tho eye oouhl reach, North, S.mth and West. The store house of Chisolea's Mill was da? maged, and tho tin carried off the loof. At the West end of Broad street no? thing could be seen of the laud. The private yards aud vacant iota lying ou the Uutledgo street ponds, us well as tho streets iu Ibo vicinity, were several feet deep with water, making it im? possible for tho residents to get out of their houses save with vehicles aud small boats. Tho North-eastern por? tion of tho roof of Mr. J. II. Stein meyer's mill was blown off, aud tbe sawed and hewed lumber iu the yard, which was completely submerged, drifted at tho will of tho wind und water. It was witb tho greatest eliHi oulty that the lumber was kept from getting mtray. Stout ropes with which the lighters, &o., were tied, parted like thread, uud four lutgo lighters were carried into tho river uud probably out to SOU. The tide also submerged Hal sey's lumber yutd, ami sot everything loose, probably cau. ing him a loss of several hundred doilurs. Tho wharf at West Point Mill was washed away, and a portion of the liu ou the roof of the building torn off. The wharf at Bennett's Mill was also damaged, and engineer's quarters ut Hudgiu's Mill uplifted and displaced. A portiou of the tiu was torn off tbe roof of the Obtiroh of tbe Holy Communion, the Spring Street Methodist Church, nud the Cathedral Chapel, Queen struct. All along the Ashley River more or ' less damage Ii an been done. The water oveiflowod the City Railway iu Rut ledge; street; aud for severul line re'Mio trips of tho cars were interrupted. The Ashley River was strew a with timber aud fragments of wood whioli ? wore) joarried along at a rapid pace by the current. Large trees were blown down iu Broad, Weutworth, Rutludge aud other streets, und nnmbers of fences dashed to the ground, und some broken into fragment-. It was neoes sury to nse small bouts iu the streets submerged, in order to communicate with tin? piivalo residences in thu South-western portiou of tbo city. One of thu most disastrous effects of the gale was the blowing down of the new Theatre, iu course of fc'rectiou iu Meeting street. It is scarcely three mouib- once the work was begun ou the building, and the contractor bad pushed it lot ward with uu energy thut deserved ? better fate. In the severe gust of wind that occurred about 1 o'c'ouk,* after tho wind bad shifted arotiud to the West, tho Western waii witi blown down, aud it, of course, eiriied the others with it. The South? ern wall fell ou the work-shop of ihe contractor, Mr. Sullivan, und totally wrecked it; but fortunately tiouu of the workmen were iu the building at ? ?to time, und consequently no lives wore lost. It was an accident that mild scarcely be guarded against. The wuils were very massive, being fully two feet thick, aud were forty-eight fi-et high. Tbo *ork had been pushed i forward vigorously, however, and hud ! scarcely had so 111 .dent Mino to dry aud sottl*. Besides this, the West wall presuuteii a solid front to the wind, winch struck it with tremendous force*. [ there was au immense scaffold in the 'interior of the building, the lumber for which alone cost over ?2,700 This wit", of course, completely wrecked iiud buried iu the debris, us was also ?X uow hoisting apparatus and steam engine, lately purchased by the con? tractor, at a coat of 31.100. It will be pueu by the correspondence below that neither Mr. Hurley nor Mr. Sullivan are discouraged. They propose to clean away tin* ruins and begin the work at ouce. It's au ill wind that blows nobody any good, and, while tho accident is to bo deplored, there is a crumb of comfort t?> be derived from the fact that Several huudred sturdy lUucuauioi will at unco find their ser? vices iu demand The following is the j correspondence referred t*?: Charleston, ?>. (,'., September 28, 1371?Alv Dkxk Mi'. Sullivan: O.ir li.-st perfeirmuuc-j was a great taccess, ' and, in the language ot the eveuiug paper, ''brought down tbo bouse." I regret too result, more ou your part than on my own, as your energy was telliug on the buck daily, uud 1 was in hope of seeing your la ois crowned with success this seasou, and Charles? ton have ///e building of the South. 1 desire thut you should start again at once and bulb! it Up, uud we will soon have, within its wills, a performance that will cum mend itself to all good oitizens of Charleston, who, iu times past, (iu that dear old spot to them,) brought down the bouse wheu merit came before them. Wo must expect Providence to do some things for the best, and to uo other ugeucy can we attribute this disaster. We will not stop to question its results, but go right ahead, und show the world thut in this city there is as much euergy and good f.uth as ever. I ugiiu say, go ahead, build it up; and, us in thu past, I will iu tho future koep up my end of tbo plank. Yours trulv, TIMOTHY HURLEY. Charleston, S. C, September 28, 1871?T. Hurley. Esq.?Dear Sir: Yours of this date to bund, and in re? ply I would beg leuvo to say that, no matter what happens, my courage is never daunted. I shall redouble my energies to erect thu building which iias income u prey to tho tempetuous winds of this day, aud try to ttguiu hmld a prototype tog the far-famed temple that unco occupied the situ which gladdened the hearts of our citi? zens. Yours, very respectfully, D. A. J. SULLIVAN, Builder and Contractor. Things looked threatening ou the island ut duybreak. At 7 o'clock the tide becamo alarmingly high, and tho waters at the cove seemed ambitiously striving to join with the roaring breukoru which rolled in thundering fury upon the front beach. The St. Helena, under the command of Capt. Coste, left tbo island about 9 u'ciock. The sea was very heavy, and the wind blowing a perfect gale from tho Eist. Capt. Coste, who deserves tho highest commendation for the ability ho dis? played iuthe management id his boat, soon saw that it would be impossible to land at any of tho wharves on the Eastern portion of the city, and deter? mined to run her up the Ashley. This was done, aud the St. Holenu was moored for some time to tho Savannah and Charleston Railroad's steamer Fannie, but the wharf being inun? dated, the passengers wore ejuaran tiuod for nearly two hours. Tho wind lulled, aud tho St. Helena put out to try and t3\iot a landing at her wharf. She had hardly started, however, when tho wind veered around to tho West, tho tquull struok her and carried uway in uu instant her entire hurncuuo deck. The cuptain saw that it was useless to attempt to go uronud into tho Cooper, and he ouce more headed for the shore. She was but a short distance from shore when oue of hor passengers jumped overboard and came near losing his life. Capt. Hubenioht gal? lantly jumped after aud rescued him. The boat was then ruu up into Bird's old ship yard, aud thu passengers landed with safety, if not with ease. Tne.dumage doue on tho islaud is but slight as uompared with what it was natural to anticipate. Two frame buildings on Oaoan Park were pros? trated, a portion of tho steamer's land iug was washed away, and a number of fences ?od small oat-houses were swept aflJJ 'One oasaaltj is reported. A young 'colored mm named Isaac Truesdale, well knowu ?b a thorough I boutmao, and for a long time captain of a passenger sloop between* the island and city, in endeavoring to. save his boat, was swept out, and before assistance con Id be given, the boat wos driveu out into the harbor, where it wub swamped, probably drowning the unfortunate owner. By 4 o'clock yes? terday afternoon, the tide bad left the island almost entirely dry, and, taking everything into consideration, the islanders have every reaeou to be grateful for their escape. As bus already boon stated, the gale was over ubout two o'clock, although several spasmodic gusts of wind occur? red after that hour. These, however, coutiuued to grow feeble, uud by four iwelock thu storm bud entirely died out, aud occasional bursts of sunshine lit. up the streets strewn with broken trees und faiiuu nies uud slate. By night, the weather bad entirely cleared off. The moou shone brightly, the air was still, and the atmosphere cool i ami bracing- Those who profess to know all atiotit t ho eccentricities of the elements say that the great gale has passet), aud thut Charleston may breathe freely for tweuty years to cotne. The damage sustained by the battery was fearful. At one o'clock the beau? tiful park und promenade, the pride of the city, was a scene of utter dovasta tiou. The central portion wub some four or Live tuet under water; large ruts und gulleys were out in thesheil walks, through which the water rushed like a mill-race. These disfigurements were sad enough, but when one turned to the high battery, that magnificent fligbtuufd walk, probably the most enchanting promenade of the kind in the country, a t>ad scene met the eye. It was one mass of ruins from one end ?o thu other; the flags crushed and overturned, the brick masonry all broken aud strewn over the street, the railing swept away, aud, in a word, the whole a perfect wreok. Iu the course of the forenoon ull the teiegiaph wires leading iuto the city were blown down, und telegraphic communication with ull points was cut off. It is, therefore, impossible to state bow far the storm extended or what dumuge, if any, was done at other points. The wires of the Western Uuion Telegraph Company were blown dowu at a distuuce of about four or live miles from tbo cily. iiotli com panies will doubtless have their lines open to day. The Weather Bureau at thin point received notice to display cautionary signals at 12 o'clock ou Sand iy night, und thu reit lamp was uccordingly dis? played. Iu the morning, however, when the storm flag wus substituted i for the red light, the wind was so ter | rifle that both tho dag and the hal yurds were blown from the staff, and it was impossible to replace them. The maximum velocity of the wind during the day was fifty-two miles au hour, thu greatest velouity ever recorded at this place. The barometer fell to 29.DC, the lowest raugu ever known here. From midnight until the cessa? tion of the slorm thu total rainfall was 3 86 inches. A beautiful elm tree iu Legare street, near Tradd street, which had been the pride of the neighborhood, for lo these many years, succumbed to the gale. The ohimueys of Mr. Vedder's house, iu Church street, and of Mrs. Wilkius' bouse, next door, both the property of Mr. John Klinuk, came dowu with a crush. Three large trees iu Wentwortb, between King and Smith streets, were blown across tbo City Railway track, stopping the running of tho ears for a time. The Enterprise Railroad was compelled to eeasu rnnuiug their cars until afternoon iu consequence of the inundation of the truck iu Washington street. The trains of the South Caro? lina und North-eastern Railroads went out and oame in as usual yesterday. . Neither of the roads sustained any material loss by the storm. Everybody who ventured out had on stout coats to shield tbem from the driving rain, for it was impossible to curry umbrel? las. The large signs of Messrs. Fnrch gott, Benedict & Co. and I. L. Falk & (Jo., King street, were blown down, und numbers of smaller signs else? where likewise. The fishermen and small colored boys drove a brisk busi? ness in ferrying persons aoross the streets at five cents a head. The tin roofs of Weat Point Mills, of the rear building of the South Ca? rolina Loun and Trust Company, of Kinsman's building, in Market Btreet, of Kressel & BrandeB, oornor Mar? ket street and East Bay, of the South Carolina Railroad dowu freight depot, of Martin & Mood's building, oorner of Murket aud Meeting streets, 4ad a number of other buildings, were rolled up,aud in some instances thrown seve? rul hundred feet into the streets. The records of Charleston, since tho tho middle of the last century, afford but six instanoes of gales which can be compared in violedce to that ol yester? day. These occurred in tho years 1752, 1783, 1804, 1811, 1822 and 1854. Thu great storm of 1804, as chroni? cled in "The Register and Historical Review," began on Friday night, Sep? tember 7, aud continued until 9 A. M. Sunday, the 9th. Tho greifest violence was manifested during a few honrs on the 8th, when the second high tido set in. The greatest violence of the wind was against the encroachment of the water. Most of the wharves were greatly damaged by tho water and wreoka and drifts from tho shipping. New East Bay street, which had just been oompleted and improved einoe its destruction in the g.do of September, 1800, was destroyed, causing an esti? mated public loss of ?10,000. Gen. Gadfiden's losses in wharf property,